Edinburgh University staff ready to strike over cuts

Staff at Edinburgh University are prepared to strike over the threat of compulsory redundancies, a union has said.

The University and College Union (UCU) said 59% of members turned out for a consulative ballot, with 75% willing to strike.

A further 10% were prepared to work to rule including refusing to cover for absent colleagues.

The university says it needs to make urgent savings to plug a £140m budget gap.

University principal Professor Sir Peter Mathieson said the current financial position was not sustainable.

“While we are not currently in deficit, we must take clear and decisive action now to avoid this,” he told BBC Scotland.

“We have been and will continue to liaise with our joint trade unions throughout this process.

“The actions we must take now – which include a reduction of both staff and non-staff operating costs – will ensure that we remain strongly placed for the future, so that we can continue to attract the brightest minds and remain a world-leading university.”

The insitution, founded in 1582, is one of four “ancient” universities in Scotland alongside Glasgow, Aberdeen and St Andrews.

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said management needed to listen to staff.

“The consultative ballot results show a clear willingness to take action against cuts and to defend jobs,” she said.

“Instead of pressing on with plans to make the biggest cuts ever seen in Scottish higher education, Peter Mathieson needs to work with UCU, use the university’s reserves and rule out compulsory redundancies.

“Politicians need to up their game as well and make clear that cuts of this scale are completely unacceptable, unnecessary and will cause lasting harm to one of Scotland’s most respected universities.”